1942:
The federal government expropriates land near the shores of Lake Huron in southwestern Ontario that had been claimed by the Kettle and Stony Point First Nation and build a military base, Camp Ipperwash. Ottawa pays the bands $50,000 to use the land.
1945:
The federal government refuses to return the land after the war ends.
1981:
The federal government pays out an additional $2.5 million for use of the land and promises to return it when the government no longer needs it for military purposes.
1993:
Dozens of members of the Kettle and Stony Point First Nation and their supporters march into the abandoned Camp Ipperwash, put up tents, build shacks and set up trailers. They say they're occupying the camp because they have become frustrated trying to negotiate with the government for the return of the land.
Sept. 4, 1995:
Dudley George and about 30 others move the protest into the adjacent Ipperwash Provincial Park, occupying it and claiming the park also contained sacred burial grounds.
Sept. 6, 1995:
Ontario Provincial Police move in on the protesters during the night. Shots are fired and native protester Dudley George is hit. His brother and sister drive him to hospital. They are stopped and arrested for attempted murder before George is taken for medical treatment. He dies in hospital. The protesters say they were unarmed. The police say they only fired after they were fired on.
April 1, 1996:
Members of the George family file a wrongful death lawsuit, naming Premier Mike Harris and others as defendants.
July 23, 1996:
The OPP's Kenneth Deane is charged with criminal negligence causing death.
April 27, 1997:
Deane is convicted. Later, he's sentenced to community service.
June 18, 1998:
The federal government and the Kettle and Stony Point First Nation sign an agreement returning Camp Ipperwash to the band. The government had confiscated the land to build a military base during the Second World War. Under the $26-million settlement, every band member receives $150,000-$400,000 in compensation.
April 9, 1999:
A United Nations commission on human rights urges the Ontario government to call a public inquiry into the death of Dudley George.
Sept. 15, 1999:
Lawyers for Kenneth Deane, the Ontario Provincial Police officer convicted of criminal negligence in the shooting death of Dudley George, say they have new evidence that may clear their client. The lawyers say new witnesses will testify that the protesters were armed and did fire at police.
Jan. 26, 2001:
The Supreme Court upholds Deane's conviction.
Nov. 21, 2001:
Ontario Premier Mike Harris begins testifying in connection with the wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of Dudley George. He maintains that he did not order police to move against protesters occupying Ipperwash Provincial Park.
Feb. 20, 2002:
Outgoing Ontario Premier Mike Harris files a $15-million libel suit against the Globe and Mail for a story the paper published saying Harris is "clearly linked" to the police decision to march on Ipperwash Provincial Park.
Sept. 23, 2002:
Kenneth Deane resigns from the OPP. The move means the former OPP officer convicted in the death of Dudley George has abandoned his fight to hang on to his job.
Aug. 21, 2003:
The Ontario government agrees to release police videotapes and photographs taken when native protester Dudley George was shot and killed in September 1995. The CBC had been trying to get the tapes released under the Access to Information Act for three years.
Oct. 2, 2003:
The family of Dudley George drops a lawsuit against former Ontario premier Mike Harris for his alleged role in George's death and reaches a $100,000 settlement with the Ontario Provincial Police.
Nov. 12, 2003:
The Ontario government, under recently-elected Liberal Premier Dalton McGuinty announces a public inquiry into the death of Dudley George.
Apr. 20, 2004:
Ipperwash Inquiry opens. Seventeen groups and individuals are granted standing for Part 1 of the inquiry, which deals with the circumstances surrounding the death of Dudley George. Eleven groups and individuals have standing for Part 2, which explores ways of preventing future violence. More than 100 people are on the witness list for the fact-finding part of the inquiry, with former premier Mike Harris and other former senior ministers testifying near the end.
Dec. 8, 2005:
The Ipperwash Inquiry holds a consultation in Toronto about aboriginal burial and other sacred sites in Ontario. “The inquiry is particularly interested in identifying best practices and policies that lead to peaceful and constructive resolutions of potential conflicts,” the inquiry says.
Jan. 4, 2006:
CTV airs the movie,One Dead Indian, about the events leading up to the killing of Dudley George in 1995.
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Related
RELATED
CBC stories
- Harris government, OPP errors led to Ipperwash death, inquiry finds (May 31, 2007)
- Ipperwash findings to be released May 31 (April 27, 2007)
- Ipperwash inquiry ends (Aug. 24, 2006)
- Ipperwash inquiry hears final arguments (Aug. 21, 2006)
- Testimony wraps up at Ipperwash inquiry in Ontario (June 28, 2006)
- Crash kills police officer who shot native protester at Ipperwash (Feb. 26, 2006)
- Harris says he wouldn't change Ipperwash response (Feb. 20, 2006)
- Harris denies ever using profane slur against natives (Feb. 15, 2006)
- Harris says he knew Ontario's boundaries in fatal Ipperwash clash (Feb. 13, 2006)
- Angry Harris wanted protesters out of Ipperwash: former official (Nov. 28, 2005)
- 'Redneck' government was anti-Indian, Ipperwash inquiry hears (May 19, 2005)
- Harris wanted protesters out of Ipperwash (May 17, 2005)
- 'Oddities' in Ipperwash tapes to be investigated (Feb. 6, 2004)
- Critics say new Ipperwash tape reveals racist attitudes (Jan. 21, 2004)
- Racist comments by Ontario police caught on videotape (Jan. 20, 2004)
- Ipperwash videotapes to be released (Aug. 21, 2003)
- OPP officer who shot Dudley George resigns (Sept. 23, 2003)
- Letter suggests secret agenda in Ipperwash standoff (Sept. 4, 2002)
- Ontario premier files $15 million libel suit (Feb. 20, 2002)
- OPP officer fired over Ipperwash shooting (Jan. 18, 2002)
- Ontario premier begins testifying in wrongful death suit (Nov. 21, 2001)
- Ontario citizens shouldn't pay premier's legal bills, says NDP (Mar. 27, 2001)
- Ontario ombudsman wants Ipperwash inquiry (Sept. 18, 1999)
- Lawyer claims new evidence in Ipperwash shooting (Sept. 15, 1999)
- Government offers Ipperwash settlement (June 17, 1998)
External Links
- The Ipperwash Inquiry - Final Report
- The Ipperwash Inquiry
- Amnesty International backgrounder on Dudley George
- Ipperwash Provincial Park
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